THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) - MARVEL COMICS
WRITER - MARGARET STOHL
ARTISTS - CARLOS PACHECO & MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
MY RATING - 9 / 10
"Why do you like Captain Marvel so much BJ?"
This was a slightly unexpected question to hear on my drive to work, especially as it was asked from the speakers of my car. I was happily listening to another cracking episode of NERD CULT UNDERGROUND (on iTunes & your favourite podcast app) when host, Justin Leal, burst out with that question. It wasn't tourettes. His fellow host, Feildmouse, had been asking him about the latest trailer for the upcoming film and they had gone into a discussion about how Justin didn't like Captain Marvel as a character. He blamed her for the death of his favourite character (WAR MACHINE), said she was boring and then, after remembering how vocal I am about my love for the character, asked out into the podcast universe; "Why do you like Captain Marvel so much BJ?", at first I scoffed but then I began asking myself...why DO I like her?
This was a slightly unexpected question to hear on my drive to work, especially as it was asked from the speakers of my car. I was happily listening to another cracking episode of NERD CULT UNDERGROUND (on iTunes & your favourite podcast app) when host, Justin Leal, burst out with that question. It wasn't tourettes. His fellow host, Feildmouse, had been asking him about the latest trailer for the upcoming film and they had gone into a discussion about how Justin didn't like Captain Marvel as a character. He blamed her for the death of his favourite character (WAR MACHINE), said she was boring and then, after remembering how vocal I am about my love for the character, asked out into the podcast universe; "Why do you like Captain Marvel so much BJ?", at first I scoffed but then I began asking myself...why DO I like her?
She was one of the first characters I'd attached myself to in comics. I thought she had a great power set, could hold her own, looked cool and was really down to earth and funny. But I began to have a crisis...what do I really know about the character, other than what's on the surface and her history with MAR-VELL? And just like Captain Marvel herself, Margaret Stohl swooped into my life from the skies above and delivered this excellent run of 'The Life of Captain Marvel' to save me from my own doubts.
This entire comic is a bold move. Carol Danvers has had many incarnations before her. Ms Marvel, Binary, Warbird etc. and yet for an age old character like Carol Danvers (first appearance was 1968) she hasn't had much development with her roots. Her origin is quite basic and so matter-of-factly that whilst it does add a shade to her character, it doesn't leave room to develop on and grow. Not like Batman or Spider-Man. In case you didn't know;
Carol Danvers was saved from an explosion by the Kree Warrior MAR-VELL, and not in a 'damsel in distress' manner. She was an officer and security chief for the United States Air Force Base who got caught in the middle of a Kree battle. She had fell for MAR-VELL as his human alias Dr Walter Lawson and followed him on his adventures. This explosion came from the destruction of a machine called the 'Psyche-Magnetron' which enabled MAR-VELL's powers to be imbued onto Carol. This killed MAR-VELL and left her with his powers and, the way she saw it, his responsibilities as well. There. Done. Wrapped in a bow.
Carol Danvers was saved from an explosion by the Kree Warrior MAR-VELL, and not in a 'damsel in distress' manner. She was an officer and security chief for the United States Air Force Base who got caught in the middle of a Kree battle. She had fell for MAR-VELL as his human alias Dr Walter Lawson and followed him on his adventures. This explosion came from the destruction of a machine called the 'Psyche-Magnetron' which enabled MAR-VELL's powers to be imbued onto Carol. This killed MAR-VELL and left her with his powers and, the way she saw it, his responsibilities as well. There. Done. Wrapped in a bow.
Stohl has decided we need to see where Carol TRULY came from. We know titbits from previous stories. We know that her dad was a bit of a bastard. But what superhero DOESN'T have some form of parent issues? But Stohl digs deeper. How did we get this brave soldier whose motto is 'HIGHER, FURTHER, FASTER, MORE'? How come for an EXTREMELY powerful character she falls victim to anxiety and sometimes loses faith in herself and her abilities
This is done with lots of great scenes between Carol and her family. There is a looming threat in the background but that's where it stays for the majority of the story. What is front and centre is her relationships, both past and present. Stohl is fantastic at writing a two way conversation with no need for fake exposition and unrealistic dialogue. You can really see that these conversations would transpire and they tie you deep into Carol. The more Carol lets you in, the further you feel from some of these others around her and, like Carol, you crave her closure with those around her.
This is done with lots of great scenes between Carol and her family. There is a looming threat in the background but that's where it stays for the majority of the story. What is front and centre is her relationships, both past and present. Stohl is fantastic at writing a two way conversation with no need for fake exposition and unrealistic dialogue. You can really see that these conversations would transpire and they tie you deep into Carol. The more Carol lets you in, the further you feel from some of these others around her and, like Carol, you crave her closure with those around her.
I cannot credit Stohl enough on these interactions between characters. They felt so real and mature without having to descend to swearing or anything dark. And these conversations were anything but speech heavy and boring, but hand crafted moments of joy, sadness, anger, drama, all with a layer of wit and humour to lift a smile from.
Acclaim must also be given to the artists for their juxtaposition of style to show past and present. Both of them captured each scene beautifully and made me feel in the moment. Be it a fight scene in the sky, a hopelessly romantic conversation on a hill or a dark, repressed memory creeping back in to the fields of your mind. I was there, for all of it. The panelling and flashbacks flowed so easily and smoothly I felt like I was in every scene.
Joe, JJ and Ma make for an interesting enemy for Carol. I say this only in a metaphorical sense as most of her confrontations are not with costumed enemies in the sky but with her family in her hometown. Those well written moments I mentioned before? Joe, JJ and Ma are key to that. I feel like I've known these characters my entire life because I can see a little of Carol in each. It's actually like watching Carol hash it out with the different parts of her persona, when I think about it. This drama and family dynamic led me to the brink of tears in a Brewdog Bar in Liverpool as I read the final issue, I cannot stress enough how good this story has all been written. So what makes it so special?
I can't tell divulge much as it would take away from the twists and turns that come about every issue. What I will say is that Stohl takes brave chances in this comic. I can't mention them all as they would lead to SPOILERS, but think about it. She has an infinitely powerful character and chooses to barely use her powers. That's insane! But some of the best comics I've ever read have been just like this. Pure character development at the front. Power party at the back. And for that I think she herself has taken this character higher and further than before. If I had to have any qualm with it I would say that the antagonist is undeveloped buuuuut it's hard to develop someone like that when you are orbiting around such a bright star as Carol Danvers. Or when your focus is the 'Life of Captain Marvel'.
By Jay Burdett
Twitter - @ProJub
Instagram - @JBDirtStar
Acclaim must also be given to the artists for their juxtaposition of style to show past and present. Both of them captured each scene beautifully and made me feel in the moment. Be it a fight scene in the sky, a hopelessly romantic conversation on a hill or a dark, repressed memory creeping back in to the fields of your mind. I was there, for all of it. The panelling and flashbacks flowed so easily and smoothly I felt like I was in every scene.
Joe, JJ and Ma make for an interesting enemy for Carol. I say this only in a metaphorical sense as most of her confrontations are not with costumed enemies in the sky but with her family in her hometown. Those well written moments I mentioned before? Joe, JJ and Ma are key to that. I feel like I've known these characters my entire life because I can see a little of Carol in each. It's actually like watching Carol hash it out with the different parts of her persona, when I think about it. This drama and family dynamic led me to the brink of tears in a Brewdog Bar in Liverpool as I read the final issue, I cannot stress enough how good this story has all been written. So what makes it so special?
I can't tell divulge much as it would take away from the twists and turns that come about every issue. What I will say is that Stohl takes brave chances in this comic. I can't mention them all as they would lead to SPOILERS, but think about it. She has an infinitely powerful character and chooses to barely use her powers. That's insane! But some of the best comics I've ever read have been just like this. Pure character development at the front. Power party at the back. And for that I think she herself has taken this character higher and further than before. If I had to have any qualm with it I would say that the antagonist is undeveloped buuuuut it's hard to develop someone like that when you are orbiting around such a bright star as Carol Danvers. Or when your focus is the 'Life of Captain Marvel'.
By Jay Burdett
Twitter - @ProJub
Instagram - @JBDirtStar